Food Network Obsessed

Andrew Zimmern returns to the pod to talk about Pitmasters , Food Network's bold new barbecue competition series. Andrew shares why he waited years before saying yes to a competition show, and what makes Pitmasters different from traditional cooking competitions. Later, Andrew reflects on how food media has evolved, why great storytelling will always outlast technology, and the inspiration behind...

Terry Crews joins the pod to talk about his latest role as host of 100 Cooks , Food Network's biggest cooking competition ever. Terry shares what it was like stepping into a kitchen with 100 home cooks competing at once, why the energy on set was unlike anything he's experienced before, and how the series balances high-stakes competition with genuine encouragement and heart.  Later, Terry ref...

Pastry chef and content creator Allison Chen joins the pod to share her unconventional journey from studying neuroscience … to attending pastry school in France. Allison reflects on learning French pastry techniques, running a tasting-menu out of her college apartment, and how documenting the experience online unexpectedly launched her career as a creator.  Later, Allison talks about bringing...

Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt join the pod to talk about their latest project, the all-new HGTV Smart Home 2026.   The winningest duo on HGTV shares what it was like designing the $1.3 million Orlando dream home, the challenge of balancing luxury with smart technology, and the features they’re most excited for fans to see… including hidden rooms, a shoe carousel, a four-screen TV wall, and...

Maneet Chauhan joins the pod to talk about one of Food Network’s most ambitious competitions yet: Chopped Castaways . Maneet shares what it was like judging a group of chefs dropped onto a remote island. She reveals why the experience felt unlike anything she’s ever done on television and why some of the food served on the island ranks among the best she’s ever tasted on Chopped .  Maneet als...

Chef Gabe Bertaccini joins the pod to talk about his latest Food Network adventure, Chopped Castaways, a wild new spin on Chopped that drops elite chefs onto a remote island where strategy, survival, and cooking skills all collide. Gabe breaks down what made the experience so intense, what surprised him most about judging in that environment, and why the show pushes chefs in completely different w...

Cassie Yeung joins the pod to share her excitement on being named to the 2026 Food Network Hot List. She talks about the viral “hangover ramen” video that changed her life, growing up in a food-obsessed household, and why she believes cooking should always be guided by “no measurements, just vibes.”  Later, Cassie dives into her New York Times bestselling cookbook Bad Bitch in the Kitch , exp...

Chef, restaurateur, and Food Network fan-favorite Jet Tila returns to the pod for a catch-up on everything from family life to building a career that spans restaurants, television, cookbooks, and teaching.  Jet dives into the new season of Ready Jet Cook , breaking down the philosophy behind fast, flavor-packed cooking and why teaching the “why” behind techniques is just as important as the r...

Pitmaster and restaurateur Rashad Jones joins the pod to talk about his journey from backyard barbecue obsession to building Big Lee's Barbecue into a barbecue destination. Rashad shares the Thanksgiving meal that sparked it all, the legacy of Uncle Leon, and how hospitality became the foundation of everything he does.  He also opens up about his “renegade barbecue” style, the Food...

Chef, restaurateur, and Food Network favorite Esther Choi returns to the pod to catch up on a massive new chapter of life: Motherhood. Esther opens up about her debut cookbook, and her new Food Network YouTube series,  Cooking with Choi .   Esther dives into her upcoming cookbook,  Hand Taste: Cook Like a Korean Grandmother , why kimchi was non-negotiable for the book...

Chef Kenny Gilbert joins the pod to talk about his impressive run on this season of  Tournament of Champions , from the pressure of the randomizer to cooking in one of the most intense competition formats on TV. He shares how he prepares for the unpredictable nature of TOC, why blind judging raises the stakes, and how he approaches each round with a “swim your race” mentality.  Kenny als...

Zoha Malik, the creator behind Bake With Zoha, joins the pod to talk about being named to Food Network’s Hot List and how a weekend baking hobby turned into one of the most popular dessert accounts on the internet. She shares how teaching herself baking from scratch shaped her approach to recipes, why understanding the “why” behind baking matters, and how a single viral brownie video hel...

Bryan Ford joins the pod to talk about judging Food Network’s new competition series  Ultimate Baking Championship  and what it was like watching some of the most skilled pastry chefs in the country go head-to-head. He shares why blind judging raises the stakes, what separates technically perfect baking from something truly special, and how storytelling plays a role even in the most prec...

Chef Kaleena Bliss joins the pod ahead of her return to  Tournament of Champions , and she breaks down what it’s really like to step back into one of the most intense kitchens on television. She talks about the adrenaline of competition cooking, the chaos of the randomizer, and why sometimes the only way to survive the TOC arena is to black out and cook on instinct.  Plus, she&...

Duff Goldman returns to the pod for his third appearance, officially earning Food Network Obsessed royalty status. He catches up with Jaymee on life at home, getting ready to become a dad of two, and why he’s embraced his unexpected role on the internet as the guy giving calm, rational dad advice.   Duff also dives into his newest Food Network series  Ultimate Baking...

Lorenzo Espada, known online as Eat With Zo, joins the pod to talk about landing on Food Network’s 2026 Hot List and the full-circle moment of being recognized by the network he grew up watching. He shares how cooking with his grandmothers shaped his love of food, and how selling food out of his college dorm helped spark the idea that eventually became his “Somethin’ Outta Noth...

Michael Tchao joins the pod to talk about how his unexpected landing on Food Network’s 2026 Hot List was a true full-circle moment. He shares how teaching a total kitchen “noob” helped him find his voice as an educator, and why experimenting in public is at the heart of his content.  Michael also dives into his recent trip to Japan, where he documented a family preserving a centuries-old char...

Alessandra Ciuffo joins the pod to talk about being on Food Network’s “Hot List” and winning  Guy’s Grocery Games  at just 15 years old. She opens up about why social media wasn’t always part of the plan, and how documenting every single day of culinary school helped her truly “find her culinary voice”. She also shares why teaching people  how  to...

Chef Mei Lin returns to the pod to talk about her Beverly Hills restaurant 88 Club, where nostalgic Chinese flavors meet a moody dining room and serious vibes. She shares how dishes like shrimp toast and Namu chicken connect to her childhood and why this chapter of her cooking feels more personal and unapologetic than ever.  Mei also dives into festival cooking, Lunar New Year collaborations,...

HGTV stars Jenny and Dave Marrs join the pod to talk about season seven of  Fixer to Fabulous . They open up about filming real life (mistakes and all), how Bentonville has changed since season one, and why authenticity is at the core of everything they do.  The couple also dives into farm life and how growing their own food reshaped their relationship with meals and...

Designer, author, and TV host Bobby Berk joins the pod to talk about the unexpected ways food and family shape the spaces we live in. He opens up about how his upbringing influenced his design philosophy, why kitchens are always the emotional center of a home, and how comfort (both visual and emotional) guides every project he touches.  Bobby also shares what he’s learned...

Bryan and Michael Voltaggio return to the pod to talk holiday cooking, family rituals, and their big  Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas  victory. They share childhood memories: from sausage balls to two-house Christmases. And how those traditions influence the way they cook for their own families today.  The brothers open up about working together at th...

Chef, author, and Emmy-winning host Kardea Brown returns to the pod to reflect on marriage, a new restaurant, two cookbooks, and her ever-growing Food Network family. She shares how her Gullah Geechee roots remain the heartbeat of everything she cooks, why her new book  Make Do With What You Have  is a love letter to resourceful home cooks, and the emotional...

Chef Michael Jenkins joins Jaymee to talk about his festive return to  Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown  and how he channels calm in the chaos of high-pressure TV kitchens. He shares the pivotal moments that shaped his culinary journey from discovering food through wrestling and travel to training under Alex Guarnaschelli at Butter. Michael also breaks down his modern American style, t...

Actor and host Oliver Hudson joins the podcast to kick off the holiday season and share the heart-warming (and hilarious) stories behind his family’s legendary Christmas traditions. From Kurt Russell’s unforgettable sleigh-track illusion to Goldie Hawn’s famous biscuits and gravy.  Oliver opens up about stepping into his first-ever hosting role for Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday...